The twenty-ninth edition of the Island Craft Fair opened its doors this Thursday in Mancha Blanca with a posthumous tribute to the ceramist Dorotea de Armas Curbelo. The recognition took place when it is 20 years since the death of the artisan, born in the hamlet of Las Montañetas, after the Cabildo plenary session, at the request of the Somos group, agreed to distinguish her posthumously as Artisan of the Year 2017 at this fair.
The act of recognition began with the projection of a video in which some historical data about the life and legacy related to pottery carried out by Dorotea were collected, a tradition inherited from her grandmother and which she years later would inherit from her mother, from whom she first learned to select the raw material (the clay), extracted from a place known as arría, near the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. Afterwards, she crushed it, wet it and left it to cure and after a few days she mixed it with picón, leaving it ready to work and thus model vessels to milk the goats, tofios known as casseroles, basins, candlesticks, incense burners, etc., without forgetting the famous Novios de El Mojón or the three-legged camel.
Dorotea de Armas was known by many as the 'Potter of Muñique', having resided in that town for several years. Dorotea, who had five children and none of them followed the trade of working with clay, only her granddaughter Mª del Rosario Arman Hernández and her husband Marcial, who continue to work it and exhibit it at different fairs today.
After the screening of the video, the Minister of Culture, Industry, Commerce and Energy, Óscar Pérez, gave a brief overview of Dorotea, thus giving way to the President of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, who also spoke about the honoree and congratulated her relatives. Next, her granddaughter, Mª del Rosario, addressed all those present and thanked the president and the corporation for this recognition that was given to her grandmother posthumously. Immediately afterwards, the President of the Cabildo presented a clay sculpture and several gifts to the relatives who took the stage. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were present at the event. It ended with musical performances by the parranda Ensemble Majalula, who performed several songs with Canarian roots, and the invited delegation from Cape Verde.
A total of 137 stands with a renovated assembly
More than a hundred artisans from all the islands and Cape Verde (guest country) will gather until next Sunday, September 10 at the Island Craft Fair. In total, 137 stands, with a completely renovated assembly, and among which are the Lanzarote municipalities (except Yaiza, which this year has decided not to attend due to coinciding with the Los Remedios festivities) and the Cabildos of La Gomera and Fuerteventura.
The inaugural event held on Thursday afternoon, in addition to the President of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, and the Minister of Culture, Industry, Commerce and Energy, Óscar Pérez, was also attended by the Mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, and the director of the Center for Crafts and Design of Cape Verde, Irlando Ferreira, among other authorities.
